Introduction to this short story. I wrote this in honor of, Egypt. This one trip changed my whole outlook on many things…. Changed my life. And during my university work, I had to write a short story that changed my life. Many events of my life have changed, since this trip. But the one thing that never changed, and I hold dear to my heart is, Egypt.
Looking over Egypt through the window of the plane, I counted the time to my arrival. Excited but a little nervous, I could not wait to land. Lights covered so much of the ground as there were many towns and cities mapping its path through the country. It was a 33 hour flight, and finally I hear the call to buckle the seat belt as we were going to land. After landing, the doors opened and we were free to leave. I stepped outside the door into the cool breeze as I walked to the airport. My eyes gazing at everything around me, I was ready to meet the man that I would marry in a few days. Not sure of the process, watching everyone, and doing as they did, I got through customs with no problem. Looking for my fiance, I see a hand waving in the air, and my name being called out among the crowd. “Mary… Mary….” As I walked toward him, his smile was growing bigger and bigger. We hugged, talked over a cup of coffee, and we got a bus to the hotel.
By now, it was 3 am, and I was so tired, but not in the way of sleepiness. I was tired from sitting for a long period of time. Being escorted to my room, as Kamal, my fiance, and I could not be alone, I put all my things in the room, and we left the hotel. Walking through the streets of Cairo was like walking back into history. As the sky began to lighten, I began to hear one of the most beautiful sounds that I have ever heard, and it was the call to prayer. It was echoing through- out the streets as people were going to the mosque or a place of prayer. We continued walking until the sun was up and over the sky, the streets were busy with people, bread baking along the street corners, and I was growing tired. Kamal and I, walked back to the hotel, and he looked to me and said, “Good night, I will be back around 11 am.” I smiled back at him and said, “Okay. I will be up and ready.” “Do you need a wake-up call,” as he questioned my ability to be able to wake up? I agreed with him as the excitement and being in new surroundings was beginning to wear on me a little. And we went our separate directions to get some rest.
Very prompt, Kamal was back at the hotel within a couple of hours, right on time, and not a minute late. Leaving the hotel we walked through the streets of Cairo, looking around like a child in a new candy store, I was amazed how people were always smiling and laughing while walking along their way. I thought to myself, while looking around at everyone, and said to Kamal, ”Life is so simple here.” With the day coming to an end, we went on to his family’s home. Everyone greeting me with hugs and kiss, even those in the streets as they knew I was American, was at times over-whelming. Spending time with family, I noticed how unique it was to see people from families in their home serving us from trays. Everything was so proper and right, and once I was served my beverage of choice, I could not leave until I finished it. With time moving so quickly, it was already 2 am, and we were on our way back to the hotel. I gazed at all the buildings, the streets, the cruise liners in the Nile River, and busy hiding from the taxi drivers as we wanted to walk. See, there was something about the taxi drivers; they loved foreigners that didn’t speak their language. This made it easy for them to make a little extra money. Arriving back at the hotel, Kamal, looking at me and said, “I will be back around 9 am, ok?” And I greed with him, and that closed the night.
Here I am, in a strange place and yet feeling like this was home. I was falling in love with a place that so many only get to see in the books or TV. My dream as a young child had come true, and I was in the midst of all I dreamed of. Reflecting on the day, I gave thanks to Allah for allowing me this opportunity. Looking at the time, it was already 4 am, and with a full day ahead of me, I needed to get some sleep, so I turned out the light.
With time going so quickly, it has been ten days now. It is our big day, we will sign our dowry, leaving our finger prints on it, and completing our process of marriage. I was so excited! With so much to do before this event, we didn’t have time to do a lot. Relaxing for the remainder of the day, we went to the cafe for hot tea and coffee. Later, went over to spend time with family. During the evening, we decided to go to the market place. I was so excited! A market place is like a huge flea market, but holds the same look as it had many centuries before. I was amazed how history still had a grip on Egypt. Hanging on to my husband’s arm, we laughed, and he showed me many things. I smile at him, and kept asking what the people were saying. And he would laugh while explaining.
The next day, he asked me if I would like to go see the pyramids. With a smile and the words uttering from my lips, “Yes, I would love to go and see them.” So, we caught the bus and were on our way. The drive seemed long as my eyes caught everything while on our way; but in reality it was shorter than one would expect. As we approached the pyramids, there stood the most magnificent sight one could ever lay their eyes on. Thinking to myself, this is so awesome! Walking around them, riding the camel, and having a cup of mint tea in Giza, we watched the sun set behind the pyramids. Surrounded by camels, buckboards pulled by a team of donkeys as they are bringing the produce into the cities, and all the dusty roads, I knew I was living history as we know it in our school books. With the day ending again, it is now 2 am, and it was time for me to sleep.
With our days filled with much walking, enjoying quiet times having tea and Nes Café at the sidewalk cafes , as most cafes are on the streets to make it easier to mingle with the people and passer –byes, I knew my days were coming to an end for now. With my flight upon me to come home, it was getting so hard. Tomorrow, I was leaving for my country, and I didn’t want to go.
Realizing later after coming home, this might be my country, but Egypt will always be my home.
Thanks to technology, the world is smaller. But in it, I hope the heart is stronger and can endure the challenges that cross the path. Mostly, we never expect or know what our future holds for us and the people that move in and out of our life… We are never prepared for that one person to fill our life through the technology of the world, but it does happen. And when and if it does, we can be sure that it was no accident, and our Lord God had control of the events of each heart.
littleriverflow 